Repair and refurbishment of a Prill Tower in Qatar

摘要

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plates are being considered as a more viable and cost effective method for strengthening concrete structures. Over 200 structures including bridges, buildings, industrial plants, chimneys, towers etc have been strengthened using CFRP plate bonding. The benefits of the technique have become apparent to infrastructure owners, designers, contractors following the success of the ROBUST project, and more recently the publication of the Concrete Society Best Practice Technical Guidance Report, TR55, together with the successful installation of over 200 structures. The benefits of the technique include, reduced installation times, reduced plant, equipment and scaffolding on site, due to the lightness of the plates compared to steel, minimal alterations to the existing structure, improved durability, fatigue and creep. This all leads to lower installation and whole life costs. The structures in which the technology comes into it's own are those where it is imperative that business interruption or disruption to train or traffic movement is kept to an absolute minimum. Infrastructure owners such as Railtrack, the Highways Agency, Local Authorities, and owners of industrial plants, such as the Prill Tower in Qatar have begun to appreciate the benefits of this technology in minimising disruption to their business critical infrastructure. The technique is also being exported to other parts of the world such as the Middle East and South East Asia.